Are there pros and cons to using the Mp3/Video inspector vs playing the inspector as the host?

There are.  So it’s a decision you need to take for yourself and every host is different.

Pros and cons to playing the inspector as a real person for your murder mystery rather than using the MP3/Videos:

Pros to having a REAL inspector in your murder mystery game:

• Reading the inspector role as host means you can host an even number of guests plus YOU.  Giving you an instant odd number for a game.   If you have an even number of guests including you, and you STILL want to play the inspector, then we can help too.  All you need to do is ask us to remove a character as you check out.  Taking the game to an odd number of players, plus the inspector.  Dropping a character on most games won’t cost more than £25.
• If you have a large group (more than 12) then sometimes it’s easier to have a real person as the hosting inspector to “herd cats”.  You know what your friends are like… loud, boistrous, and you may decide trying to get the quiet enough to listen to a recording is just not going to work.
• If you have very young children at the party, you may want to play inspector and cast them as deputys.  That can often keep them included and you can set them on with tasks like fingerprinting guests with chocolate sauce during the game, as well as getting them to ask the odd question from the game materials.  (The inspector knows who is asking which question each round, so they can ask a youngster to ask a question instead of a particular adult.  We do this ourselves when hosting for families.)
• If your group isn’t very spontaneous – then having a real inspector will often chivvy them along as the inspector can prompt people to ask questions, and ensure everyone reads their lines at the right point, as this is in their booklet.

Cons to taking on the inspector role in your murder mystery game rather than using the MP3/Video recording:

• If you’re an even number of players, you’ll need to ask us to drop a guest if you want to take the inspector role.  This will cost £25.
• You may not be particularly “dynamic” as a murder mystery host, or be able to set the scene as well as our video does.  Some hosts decide to play the inspector and still use the video inspector for the first script to set the scene, then come in as deputy once everyone is playing.
• You’ll know whodunnit as you’ve printed and assembled the inspector booklet, so you can’t play along too and the ending isn’t a surprise.
• You are needed between rounds to read in the inspector role – this means you can’t titivate with the meal at this point.
• The guests will naturally rely on you as host inspector to work out what to do next.  This often removes that sponteneity you get when everyone is a character and in the same boat.
• As inspector – you are facilitating the game rather than enjoying it too.  So you won’t be able to guess whodunnit as you know.